Teacher in the Air Dr. Diane's Flight with the NOAA Hurricane Hunters

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TEACHER in the AIR, Dr. Diane’s Flight with NOAA Hurricane Hunters

Dr. Diane’s Flight with the NOAA Hurricane Hunters Diane Marie Stanitski and John J. Adler

Written by: Diane Marie Stanitski and John J. Adler

Illustrations by: Bruce David Cowden

A National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Publication A National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Publication Biographies Diane Stanitski is a climatologist and associate professor at Shippensburg University in Pennsylvania where she teaches meteorology and atmospheric science courses. She served as both a NOAA Teacher in the Air in 2005 and a NOAA Teacher at Sea in 2002. She worked as a program manager in the NOAA Office of Climate Observation from 2003- 2005 to help build the global ocean observing system. Diane was co-author of the book, Teacher at Sea: Miss Cook’s Voyage on the RONALD H. BROWN. She is passionate about science and loves spending time with her family, traveling, playing soccer, and running.

John Adler is a Lieutenant Commander in the NOAA Corps and served for five years as a navigator onboard Miss Piggy, the NOAA Hurricane Hunter plane. Previously, he served for 11 years as an aerial navigator specializing in Polar Regions in the US Navy. John is currently an Instrument Manager for the next generation polar orbiting operational environmental satellite system (NPOESS) at NOAA. He lives in Shepherdstown, West Virginia, with his three sons, Austen, Ian, and Collin. Together, they enjoy sailing, reading, bicycling, and Macintosh computers.

Bruce Cowden is Chief Boatswain on the RONALD H. BROWN (RHB) and was illustrator for the book, Teacher at Sea: Miss Cook’s Voyage on the RONALD H. BROWN. He lives in Charleston, South Carolina, the homeport of the RHB. He started going to sea at the age of 18 where he cruised around the Caribbean on sailing vessels. He then joined the US Navy and sailed with them for six years. In 1988, he began his career with NOAA on the research vessel MALCOLM BALDRIGE. He worked his way up to Boatswain group leader and then took the Chief Boatswain position on the NOAA Ship FERREL. After a few years on the FERREL, he started working in Gray’s Reef National Marine Sanctuary in Savannah, Georgia, where he served as captain of the Sanctuary’s support vessel and was a diver, ROV operator, and submersible pilot for sustainable seas operations. He then started working on the RHB where he currently serves as Chief Boatswain and Dive Master. His hobbies include cartooning, watercolor painting, and carving jewelry and figurines.

Written by: Diane M. Stanitski, Ph.D. Teacher in the Air National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)

and

John J. Adler WP-3D Orion Navigator Lieutenant Commander, NOAA Corps

Illustrated by: Bruce D. Cowden Chief Boatswain NOAA Ship RONALD H. BROWN

Graphic Design by: David R. Brenner Graphic Artist NOAA Office of the Under Secretary

A National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Publication 2006 Acknowledgements The authors extend their appreciation to those who supported the completion of this children’s science book, including Jay and Mary Lou Adler, Greg Bast, Lori Bast, Rear Admiral Richard R. Behn, Devin Brakob, David Brogan, Barry Choy, Tara Clopper, Mary Cook, Barry Damiano, Rear Admiral Samuel P. De Bow, Jr., Melanie Ellsworth, Dewie Floyd, Ron Gird, Geoff Goodenow, Jennifer Hammond, Deborah Jones, Philip Kennedy, John Yenta Kermond, Scott Kiser, Jeanne Kouhestani, Captain Stephen Kozak, Jim McFadden, Randy Mitchell, Stasya Panova, Jim Roles, Kathy Rowe, Tim Schott, Kathy Seiler, Tom Shepherd, Patricia and Raymond Stanitski, Dana Tomlinson, and Van L. Wagner. We also appreciate the cooperation and support of the dedicated NOAA employees on board Miss Piggy and those assisting planeside in each city during the 2005 Hurricane Awareness Tour.

Requests for copies should be addressed to Outreach Unit NOAA Office of Public and Constituent Affairs 1305 East West Highway #1W514 Silver Spring, MD 20910 Phone: (301) 713-1208 [email protected]

© 2006 by National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration http://www.noaa.gov This book is dedicated to the future scientists and researchers of America and to the employees of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, especially those committed to improving the public’s understanding and awareness of hurricanes. Teacher in the Air Dr. Diane’s Flight with the NOAA Hurricane Hunters It was a brisk winter day in Shippensburg, Pennsylvania, and Dr. Diane Stanitski sat in front of her fireplace thinking about the wood that fueled the flickering flames and warmed her smile. The logs and branches had come from one of three trees that had fallen, domino fashion, in her backyard during Hurricane Isabel the year before. This hurricane was so severe that it brought 50 mph winds to southern Pennsylvania. Damage due to the high winds and heavy rain had been widespread throughout their area…just imagine how extensive it had been where Isabel made landfall along coastal North Carolina.

As she stared at the flames, she developed the story in her mind that she would share with her Shippensburg University students later that day. She would describe hurricanes, her favorite topic of the semester! A discussion of hurricane development, storm characteristics, the incredibly destructive storm surge, and the unique naming system for hurricanes always enthralled her meteorology students.

Dr. Diane was also excited that one of her most enthusiastic students had offered to travel with her to Maryland the following day to volunteer at a student science fair at NOAA. They would help judge science projects completed by students at a nearby elementary school. They were told that the 4th, 5th, and 6th grade students consistently created outstanding research projects. She imagined how wonderful it would be if these students grew up to become scientists, perhaps even meteorologists!

Illustration: Diane fireplace / students The next day, as Dr. Diane observed the creative student science projects at NOAA, she encountered another judge who was an officer in the NOAA Corps. He was the navigator of a NOAA aircraft that flies through hurricanes to collect the information that helps us understand the nature of these powerful storms. She couldn’t believe that she had met an actual hurricane hunter!! He told her about the NOAA Teacher in the Air Program, and encouraged her to look into participating in research on a NOAA plane. As part of this program other teachers had flown in Alaska and Hawaii to learn about wind flow patterns. Wow! Could she also participate, and learn more about hurricanes? One of Dr. Diane’s previous professors who she highly respected had always advised, “Never say no to opportunity!” This could be her big chance to participate in hurricane awareness activities.

By spring, as part of the NOAA Teacher in the Air Program, Dr. Diane left for Maine to travel on the NOAA WP-3D Orion plane during the Hurricane Awareness Tour. She would learn about the fascinating science and technology on board, and help describe the world of meteorology to students of all ages who visited the plane during the tour. Students could walk through the plane to see the tools used to solve the mysteries of a hurricane. These tools enable meteorologists to precisely predict a hurricane’s path as it approaches a coastal area.

The goal of the tour is to inform the public about hurricane safety and preparedness, and for the public to interact with emergency officials from their community. This year, the plane would fly from Bangor, Maine to Baltimore, Maryland, and on to Richmond, Virginia before stopping in Charleston, South Carolina, and Jacksonville, Florida. During each stop the pilots, scientists, and crew on board would share their stories about flying through hurricanes, and the science conducted during each eye penetration.

The Hurricane Awareness Tour is a week-long event that alternates yearly between selected cities on the Eastern Seaboard and the Gulf Coast states. The WP-3D aircraft spends one day at each city for the public to view. See page 42 for a detailed map of the Hurricane Awareness Tour.

The moment that Dr. Diane had been waiting for finally arrived – she was flying with the hurricane hunters! Since this was not an actual flight through a hurricane, she was given a place of honor in the plane’s flight station (often referred to as the cockpit). She observed the procedures that the pilots and flight engineer completed as they prepared for takeoff. They pushed a huge array of buttons and levers while communicating with the airport control tower. The quick ascent into the air with views on all sides of the plane was exhilarating! She discovered that during hurricane flights, one pilot focuses on keeping the plane level while the flight engineer throttles the engines to control the altitude changes during intense updrafts and downdrafts. The co-pilot monitors all instruments to detect problems or emergency situations. Flying through the eyewall is the scariest and most dangerous part of the flight for the crew, but their training and experience ensures they are well prepared.

Dr. Diane tried to imagine the worst turbulence she had ever experienced. She noticed that everything on the plane was either tied down or had velcro on it – even the pencils! This is necessary to keep things from shifting during flight. Once the plane leveled at cruising altitude, Dr. Diane unstrapped and left the flight station to walk back and visit the crew. The crewmembers were making final preparations at their stations for the week-long tour, and were happy to explain their duties. NOAA WP-3D Flight Station

Dr. Diane asked the scientists when they first became interested in weather. Many started observing weather patterns in middle school and sharpening their math and science skills in high school. They never realized that a degree studying science would lead to a career involving the excitement of flying into the eye of a hurricane!

Dr. Diane took pictures of the instruments released through the bottom of the hurricane plane. Information from these instruments assists the meteorologists at the National Hurricane Center (NHC) in deciding when and where to post hurricane watches and warnings.

One of the most important instruments is a dropsonde, a weather sensor that measures air temperature, humidity, and atmospheric pressure. These readings are similar to those measured by weather instruments that many people hang on their wall at home. The dropsonde uses a GPS to help determine the winds in and around a hurricane. As each probe descends at a velocity of nearly 35 miles per hour (15 m/s), it transmits data back to the aircraft. The hurricane hunters often release over 50 dropsondes into a hurricane during each flight.

Dr. Diane asked how the dropsondes are deployed from the plane. She learned that a dropsonde operator places them in a tube inside the plane and sends them down a chute where they are released through the bottom of the aircraft. A parachute opens which allows them to float downward while collecting and transmitting their data.

Another important instrument is an aircraft expendable bathythermograph, or AXBT. It is a larger probe that is dropped from the bottom of the airplane and falls into the sea. Once this instrument hits the ocean and begins to sink in the water, a float with a radio transmitter rises to the surface for communication with the aircraft above. An AXBT measures water temperature as it descends to a depth of approximately 1,500 feet (457 m).

Dr. Diane then spoke with the Director of the National Hurricane Center who was also on board. She asked how the measurements from the plane’s instruments are used. He explained that forecasters need to understand the current oceanic and atmospheric conditions to better predict the movement and intensity of tropical cyclones. The aircraft data are very important because the readings are taken in the vicinity of the storm. Forecasters use the data in various computer models, developed by NOAA’s Environmental Modeling Center and other modeling centers around the globe, to help produce weather watches and warnings. Dr. Diane was amazed by how quickly measurements taken from the plane are used to help predict future conditions in order to save lives. The Director then explained that he often informs the public directly from the NHC, where the media are able to conduct live interviews.

Before she knew it, Dr. Diane was told that the plane would be landing in Baltimore in 20 minutes. She took her seat and fastened the extremely strong 4-point seatbelt by connecting the two shoulder straps to the hip straps at her waist. These seatbelts hold the aircrew firmly in their seats as the plane penetrates through the eyewall of a hurricane. She closed her eyes and imagined such an adventure. She was glad that she would have more time to return to the plane with her students, once on the ground in Baltimore.

The Hurricane Research Division (HRD), part of the NOAA Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research (OAR), develops models to improve the understanding of hurricanes and other tropical weather. Their research is based mainly on data obtained using aircraft like the WP-3D Orion.

Dr. Diane’s meteorology students had excitedly watched the television coverage of the hurricane hunters’ visit in Bangor the day before. Now, the students traveled by bus from Shippensburg to meet the WP-3D plane as it touched down in Baltimore. Upon arrival, they would visit the scientists and learn about the meteorological and oceanic instruments that are dropped from the plane as it ventures through each hurricane.

After witnessing the thrill of the descent onto the runway from her seat inside the flight station, Dr. Diane stepped out of the plane and was pleased to be greeted by the familiar faces of her students. She also noticed with delight one of the elementary students who completed a project on hurricanes during the NOAA science fair earlier that year. The smiles on the students’ faces were a mile wide as one of the pilots of the plane shook their hands. Of course, one of the first questions posed related to the thrill of flying through a hurricane. “What is it REALLY like?” they asked.

The pilot told them that flying within the eye is like walking into a massive stadium, where the surrounding eyewall clouds look like white bleachers beneath the blue sky above. The elementary student proudly stated, “I hope to become a hurricane hunter someday, too!”

Everyone was fascinated by the plane. NOAA has two WP-3D Orion aircraft, each with a unique Muppet character’s name: Kermit and Miss Piggy. The planes, based in Tampa, Florida, can travel over 2000 nautical miles during each flight.Kermit and Miss Piggy have been through more than 90 hurricanes since they were built in the mid 1970’s. The highest wind speed ever experienced on the planes was 206 knots (185 mph) during Hurricane Gilbert in 1988.

Eighteen people typically fly on hurricane missions, which may last up to eight hours. Amazingly, the plane weighs 135,000 lbs (61,235 kg) when fully loaded. If each plane was fueled with gasoline instead of jet fuel, one flight would use enough gas to fill your car’s tank 375 times!

Since there are 1,852 meters in one nautical mile, how ? many kilometers can Miss Piggy fly in one flight? ?

Dr. Diane was excited to be part of the hurricane team during this Hurricane Awareness Tour. Her job was to explain how hurricanes form to people waiting to board the plane. The students were fascinated to know that hurricanes are the largest storms in the world, sometimes extending to 375 miles (600 km) in diameter. They form over large bodies of water in the low latitude tropics, close to, but not directly at the equator. There, warm water (26°C or 79°F) provides the fuel to allow hurricanes to grow to over 9 miles (14 km) in height. This is above the altitude of many commercial airplanes as they make a cross-country flight! The chief scientist on the plane added, “Surprisingly, even in the warm tropics, ice often forms on the wings of the plane if Miss Piggy flies above the freezing level within the clouds!”

Hurricanes always rotate counter-clockwise in the Northern Hemisphere (and clockwise in the Southern Hemisphere) due to the coriolis effect. They are centered around an area of very low air pressure called the eye, which is typically 15-35 miles (24-56 km) in diameter. In the center of the eye, the wind speed is almost zero, while in the surrounding eyewall, winds can reach over 215 mph (350 kph). The spiral bands that surround the eyewall extend out to the edge of the storm bringing steady and widespread rainfall. When the eyewall passes over land it brings torrential rain, destructive winds, and sometimes bolts of lightning and tornadoes. A huge storm surge pushes water onshore, often causing incredible destruction of vehicles, boats, and homes.

The students speaking with Dr. Diane waited as people entered and exited Miss Piggy during their tour. One of the students from a local high school remarked that he has a difficult time remembering the wind speed that upgrades a tropical storm to hurricane status. Another student asked how many storm categories there are before an area of low pressure actually becomes strong enough to be called a hurricane.

“Excellent questions,” replied Dr. Diane. She described how disturbances in the tropics are called tropical depressions if the sustained wind speed remains at or below 38 mph (62 kph). At this point, the National Hurricane Center in Miami gives the tropical depression a number. As the wind speed increases and holds consistently between 39 and 73 mph (63 and 118 kph), the depression becomes a tropical storm. The NHC then gives the storm a name. When winds are sustained at 74 mph (119 kph) or greater, the NHC then designates it a hurricane. The Saffir-Simpson scale (page 39) is used to place the hurricane into one of five categories depending on its wind speed. The scale also relates to barometric pressure, and indicates storm surge potential and destructive capability, with the least intense hurricanes given a category 1 rating. The most powerful hurricanes are designated as a category 5. Tropical depressions, tropical storms, and hurricanes are collectively referred to as tropical cyclones.

After waiting in a long line with curious school children, it was finally time for Dr. Diane’s students to board Miss Piggy. As they went up the plane’s ladder, everyone noticed the hurricane stickers on the side of the plane with the names of each hurricane Miss Piggy had flown through. Two students smiled when they saw their names, Danielle and Earl, two hurricanes that had formed in 1998.

Naming tropical storms: Tropical disturbances receive a name when they have sustained winds of at least 39 mph, indicating tropical storm status. Starting in 1953 each tropical storm of the season was named alphabetically with a woman’s name, beginning with the letter ‘A’. Since 1979, both men’s and women’s names have been used. Only 21 letters of the alphabet are utilized (Q, U, X, Y, and Z are omitted) and if enough tropical storms form in one season, the names of the Greek alphabet (Alpha, Beta…) are used. A complete list of Atlantic tropical cyclone names for 2005-2010 is shown on page 42.

1 Category 1 Hurricane — winds 74-95 mph

Category 2 Hurricane — winds 96-110 mph

Category 3 Hurricane — winds 111-130 mph

Category 4 Hurricane — winds 131-155 mph

Category 5 Hurricane — winds greater than 155 mph Throughout the tour, the students listened intently to a description of each crewmember’s duties. At the flight station, students had the opportunity to sit and talk with a pilot, discussing what it would feel like to fly the plane through a storm. They were also curious about how the pilots know exactly where to fly. The navigator, who determines the tracks for each mission, addressed this question. Using the GPS, the navigator gets the plane in position for an eyewall pass, plots the actual position of the hurricane, and then determines the hurricane’s speed and direction of travel.

While flying over the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea, the navigator must ensure the plane is flying high enough to clear the numerous mountains on the islands and in coastal areas. The hurricane hunters typically make six passes through the eyewall, so the navigator also keeps track of the total fuel used, guaranteeing the plane can make it back home safely.

The navigator also happened to be a geographer who loved to cross check his modern electronic systems with a sextant. He explained that this is the same instrument first used by explorers almost 300 years ago to cross the vast oceans. The sextant enables him to verify the plane’s position by using the sun, moon, stars or planets as a guide.

Dr. Diane noticed that there were a large number of radios at the navigator’s station. The navigator explained that there are many ways to send information from the plane. Similar to AM, FM, and satellite radio stations, the plane can transmit information using HF, VHF and satellite communication radios.

HF (High Frequency) can be used for long distance transmission of voice or data directly to the National Hurricane Center. VHF (Very High Frequency) and UHF (Ultra High Frequency) are used for line-of-sight voice communications between planes or to air traffic control towers. Satellite communication channels are dedicated The sextant is a device used to aid to either high-speed data or voice transmissions in determining one’s position and to send crucial data to the NHC, and are typically heading. It measures the angle of used when the plane is far offshore. a celestial body, such as the sun or stars, from the horizon.

Once the plane is in the correct position to begin a hurricane pass, the flight director uses the plane’s radar equipment to determine where it is safest to fly through the eyewall, and then directs the pilots to enter the eye of the hurricane. There are three radar displays: one showing the horizontal storm image, another the vertical profile, and the third displaying close-up images from the nose of the plane. Looking at the radar images, the flight director determines the best course for the pilots to steer through the gigantic cumulonimbus eyewall clouds. What a job! The goal is to enter the eyewall perpendicular to the wind direction without going into the most extreme parts of the storm. Dr. Diane asked the flight director to point out the nose and belly radar on the outside of the plane to her students later that afternoon.

Another job of the flight director is to decide when to launch the scientific probes. Some of the students thought it would be hard to make so many decisions while traveling at 240 knots (275 mph). The flight director winked and said, “That’s why they pay me the big bucks.”

The tour continued and Dr. Diane was eager for her students to learn more about her favorite part of the plane, the science section. The students asked the scientists how they collect data to help answer research questions about hurricanes. The scientists use the same radar images as the flight director, and also collect data from dropsondes and the AXBT’s that Dr. Diane had learned about earlier in the morning. She explained to the students, “Data from these sensors are recorded on each flight, and then incorporated into weather forecast models to help predict when and where landfall will occur.” Over the past 30 years, the Hurricane Research Division models have greatly improved predictions of where storms will hit the coastline.

The aircraft’s nose and belly radar signals reflect off raindrops in the eyewall, allowing the scientists to visualize the hurricane structure. The tail Doppler radar tells scientists the wind speeds and maximum height of the hurricane. Miss Piggy enters the eyewall at a relatively 1 low altitude, typically 5,000 feet (1524 m), which is only /10 of the height of the hurricane!

After touring the inside of the plane, Dr. Diane and her class descended down the steps of Miss Piggy onto the tarmac to observe the outside of the plane. Many additional sensors are attached along the exterior to monitor atmospheric conditions within a hurricane. A hygrometer is used to measure the moisture held within the massive cumulonimbus clouds. The wind speed is calculated from many sources, including a pitot tube, which is a pressure anemometer. A thermocouple is a device used to measure the outside air temperature very accurately. These sensors provide necessary information about the conditions in which Miss Piggy flies.

After a final glance at these instruments, Dr. Diane exclaimed, “Time to eat!” She and her students walked over to the edge of the airstrip where volunteers from the local community were serving lunch to the entire hurricane hunter team. The students were thrilled when the flight coordinator, a scientist who had flown through more hurricanes than any other hurricane hunter, asked if he could join them for lunch. The students asked him to share some stories about flights into and out of hurricanes. They asked an array of questions, including, “Which hurricane was the most scary to fly through?” The flight coordinator answered that flying through Hurricane Hugo in 1989, when one of the engines failed, was his most harrowing experience. Fortunately, the plane managed to make it back home safely on three engines.

Three examples of the external sensors on Miss Piggy that measure the atmosphere’s temperature, pressure and humidity.

One student had noticed all of the computer systems on the plane and asked about the data the systems were processing. They were amazed to learn that every tenth of a second, 250 different parameters, such as wind speed, wind direction, and velocity of the plane, are processed by the main database system! Critical portions of the data are transmitted over a satellite link to forecasters at the National Hurricane Center. They then run computer hurricane models, which are a key element in forecasting a hurricane’s strength and where it will move. It is therefore essential that Miss Piggy’s information be analyzed quickly and efficiently.

The students remembered Dr. Diane showing them hurricane data along with NOAA satellite imagery from the World Wide Web at the National Hurricane Center website. They could not believe that during a major hurricane the NOAA home page and the NHC website can receive over 295 million hits in one day! Recently, the NHC website received up to 5,200 hits per second as Hurricane Katrina pummeled the Gulf Coast states!

The NOAA National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service (NESDIS) produces satellite imagery of hurricanes, which can be found at the NHC website: www.nhc.noaa.gov. This image of Hurricane Katrina was taken from the NOAA GOES-12 satellite in 2005.

After lunch, the students met with the Director of the National Hurricane Center to learn what happens onshore during a hurricane. Can you imagine 100-year old trees uprooted from the ground, boats carried half a mile inland on a storm surge, or a 20-car pileup from floodwaters that washed them into a heap? The Director explained how extensive damage from a hurricane can also be caused by tree branches as they break, and materials from roofs or signs as they blow downwind due to the immense force of the hurricane. One of Dr. Diane’s students asked the Director if wind or water is the most destructive part of the hurricane. He stated that the most extensive damage is related to the storm surge, which causes huge amounts of flooding, especially along the coast when the hurricane hits land. Heavy downpours also add to the flooding caused by the storm surge. Surprisingly, many places rely on the hurricane season to enhance annual rainfall, which can replenish groundwater levels and help prevent drought.

The NOAA National Ocean Service, through its Tides Online website, shows water levels based on the tides along coastal areas. During a hurricane, the storm surge can raise water levels to dangerous heights, as the Saffir-Simpson scale indicates. The storm surge height depends on the wind speed, the tidal state, the slope of the offshore continental shelf, and the inland topography. Dr. Diane told the students that one of the highest storm surges ever recorded in the United States was 24 feet (7.3 m) during Hurricane Opal in 1995!

After Hurricane Katrina, NOAA National Marine Fisheries Service veterinarians rescued eight trained dolphins that were swept out to sea from their damaged aquarium. Fisheries scientists also collected and tested samples of water, sediment, and fish tissue from areas in the Gulf of Mexico affected by the storm. This will help ensure that our seafood supply remains free of harmful toxins and bacteria. Other Fisheries scientists evaluated wetlands losses and conducted surveys to determine how populations of native oysters, shrimp and fish changed as a result of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.

Before Storm Surge

After Storm Surge Dr. Diane was excited to hear the hurricane experts on the plane discuss the importance of the NOAA Weather Radio for hurricane awareness. She uses this radio daily to access current weather information and to receive special severe weather alerts for southern Pennsylvania. She had even given weather radios to friends and family members as birthday gifts. The NOAA weather radio stations provide real-time weather information nationwide on seven different VHF channels. There are over 900 broadcast towers across the United States, which also send out warning signals for other impending public safety issues, both natural and human-induced. Examples include flash floods, volcanic activity, and earthquakes.

Earlier that day, the names of each student and teacher who came to tour Miss Piggy were entered into a drawing. The winner would receive a NOAA weather radio, which was developed by the NOAA National Weather Service. Now they gathered around to see who would be the proud owner of the AM/FM/NOAA radio, which would come in handy during upcoming hurricane seasons. A 7th grade student beamed when his name was called. He accepted the radio graciously, knowing that he would place it in his family’s living room for everyone to use.

You can receive wave height information during the marine forecast on NOAA weather radio.

Did you know? … During Hurricane Ivan in 2004, waves over 27 meters high were recorded by buoys in the ? middle of the Gulf of Mexico. How ? high were these waves in feet?

NOAA Weather Radio

During their visit to see Miss Piggy, the students met with members of local emergency management groups. They spoke with firefighters, sheriffs, ham radio operators, and members of the police force and National Guard. While best known for assisting after a disaster, these people and organizations also support communities in advance by providing training and guidance.

The students were then asked to be interviewed by the local TV station reporter, who promised that they would be on TV later that night. They couldn’t wait to tell their parents the news!

As Dr. Diane and her students departed from the airport in Baltimore, they each received a hurricane tracking chart (inside front cover), similar to charts that can be printed from the National Hurricane Center website. They planned to track each hurricane on their own during the upcoming hurricane season.

When the students returned to Shippensburg University they gave a presentation to the campus and local community informing everyone about the importance of hurricane awareness and preparedness. They described what should be done before and during a hurricane, including listening to authorities, leaving if told to evacuate, and preparing to be gone for up to a week or longer. They emphasized that each family should prepare a hurricane emergency kit and keep it accessible. Dr. Diane listened with pride as her students conveyed their knowledge of hurricane awareness and safety to those attending the presentation.

The hurricane season is the portion of the year having a relatively high occurrence of hurricanes. The hurricane season in the Atlantic, Caribbean, and Gulf of Mexico runs from June 1 to November 30. Using the bar graph to the right, estimate the total number of tropical storms and hurricanes during each month of the hurricane season. For example, in June, there were 76 tropical storms and 28 hurricanes.

What a wonderful experience to have been a NOAA Teacher in the Air and a member of the Hurricane Awareness Team! Dr. Diane was thankful to have met the scientists, crew, and forecasters who improve the safety of people living in both coastal and inland regions. The crew of Miss Piggy was grateful that Dr. Diane had helped explain to the public how hurricanes form, as well as their destructive potential. Luckily, with today’s satellite and computer technology, along with an extensive warning system, people are well informed of a hurricane’s arrival far in advance. Dr. Diane’s students had also benefited from their experience touring Miss Piggy, and many were considering scientific research as an exciting and challenging career, perhaps even working for NOAA someday!

Upon returning to Shippensburg, Dr. Diane smiled as she walked to class, remembering the appreciative looks of her students as they waved goodbye to the pilots on Miss Piggy. As she reflected upon the heroic efforts of the men and women who dedicate their lives to gathering hurricane information, she realized that someday her students might also contribute to these important scientific efforts.

Teacher in the Air Hurricane Crossword Puzzle

ACROSS DOWN 3 The system that enables the flight 1 What is issued to the public when director to “see” the hurricanes. hurricane force winds are expected within 24 hours. 4 What is issued to the public when hurricane conditions are possible 2 The name of the NOAA plane that flies within 36 hours. into hurricanes. 7 Devices dropped from altitude to 5 Name of tropical cyclones with winds measure the winds of the storm. greater than 74 mph. 8 Calmest part of a hurricane. 6 The device used by the navigator to 9 A device dropped from the plane that determine position from the sun or stars. measures the ocean temperature.

*Answers on page 39

3 NOAA WP-3D and G-IV Hurricane Aircraft The renowned NOAA WP-3D Orions (Kermit and Miss Piggy) participate in a wide variety of national and international meteorological, oceanographic and environmental research programs, in addition to their widely known use in hurricane research and reconnaissance. These versatile turboprop aircraft are WP-3D Orion equipped with a variety of scientific instrumentation, radars and recording systems for measurements of the atmosphere, the earth, and its environment. These robust and well-maintained aircraft have led NOAA’s continuing effort to monitor and study hurricanes and other severe storms, the quality of the atmosphere, the state of the ocean, and climate trends.

The Gulfstream IV-SP or G-IV (Gonzo) is a high-altitude, high-speed, twin- Gulfstream IV-SP turbofan jet aircraft configured for operational support flying surveillance missions for the National Hurricane Center. It was designed to collect, process, and transmit vertical atmospheric soundings in the environment of the hurricane. The data are transmitted to the National Centers for Environmental Prediction and the National Hurricane Center for inclusion in global and hurricane models. In addition, hurricane forecasters use the real-time observations to depict the synoptic patterns surrounding hurricanes. NOAA’s Office of Marine and Aviation Operations (OMAO) operates a wide variety of specialized aircraft and ships to complete NOAA’s environmental and scientific missions, including Kermit, Miss Piggy, and Gonzo.

35 Teacher in the Air Glossary Scientific words in bold print in the text are defined below.

Anemometer – An instrument used to measure Flight Station – Also referred to as the cockpit, wind speed. this area contains all the controls to fly the plane. On Miss Piggy, two pilots and one flight AXBT – An expendable bathythermograph engineer operate the aircraft from this location. measures water temperature. It is launched from an aircraft and equipped with a small GOES-12 – One satellite in the series of parachute to slow its descent from high Geostationary Operational Environmental altitudes. Satellites operated by NOAA NESDIS to provide weather information. Coriolis Effect – An apparent movement of the air mass particles to the right of their intended path GPS – The Global Positioning System is a set of (in the Northern Hemisphere). It is the result of 24 satellites that broadcasts signals worldwide observations in a rotating reference system, enabling people and machines to know their such as the earth. location (in 3 dimensions) to within 30 meters. Cumulonimbus – A vertically developed cumulus Ham Radio – Amateur radio, a hobby enjoyed cloud, often capped by an anvil-shaped by many people throughout the world (as of cloud. Also called a thunderstorm cloud, it is 2004 about 3 million worldwide). A holder of an frequently accompanied by heavy showers, Amateur Radio license can transmit information lightning, thunder, and sometimes hail, gusty such as voice, data, and even TV signals to winds, or a tornado. others worldwide. Downdraft – A small-scale column of air that Hurricane – A tropical cyclone in which the rapidly sinks toward the ground, usually maximum sustained surface wind (using the accompanied by precipitation as in a shower or U.S. 1-minute average) is 64 knots (74 mph or thunderstorm. 119 kph) or more. The term hurricane is used for Northern Hemisphere tropical cyclones east Dropsonde (known as a GPS dropwindsonde) – of the International Dateline to the Greenwich A weather reporting instrument, about the size Meridian. The term typhoon is used for Pacific of an empty paper towel roll, which is dropped tropical cyclones north of the Equator west of by aircraft into the storm or hurricane. The the International Dateline. temperature, pressure and humidity are radioed back to the plane as it falls to the surface. Wind Hurricane Awareness Tour – An education and speed and wind direction are also derived. outreach tour using NOAA’s WP-3D Orion research aircraft and crew which provides Eye – The roughly circular area of comparatively tours for the public and local school children. light winds that encompasses the center of Hurricane experts from the National Hurricane a severe tropical cyclone. The eye is either Center are available during the day to brief completely or partially surrounded by the Emergency Management Officials on hurricane eyewall cloud, and is the lowest atmospheric forecasting and provide media interviews. pressure point of the hurricane. Hurricane Emergency Kit – This portable kit Eyewall – An organized band or ring of is a necessity for anyone living in a region cumulonimbus clouds surrounding the eye with threatened by hurricanes. Contents of a maximum wind speeds in the hurricane. suggested kit are found on page 40. Flight Director – A meteorologist flying on the Hurricane Hunters – The name used in the U.S. to Hurricane Hunter aircraft who determines describe two organizations that fly into the eye the scientific profile of each mission. Using of hurricanes supporting the National Hurricane the radar, the flight director directs the plane Center. The NOAA team flies the WP-3D Orion through the eye of the hurricane and then research aircraft; the US Air Force Reserve determines the center position of the storm. team flies the C-130 cargo aircraft. Flight Engineer – A flight engineer is a member Hurricane Season – The hurricane season in the of the aircrew who is responsible for monitoring Atlantic, Caribbean, and Gulf of Mexico runs aircraft systems during flight. These systems from June 1 to November 30. In the Eastern include pressurization, fuel, environmental, Pacific the hurricane season runs from May 15 hydraulic, and electrical systems. to November 30, and in the Central Pacific the season runs from June 1 to November 30.

3 Hurricane Warning – A warning that sustained Nautical Mile – A distance related directly to winds 64 knots (74 mph or 119 kph) or higher the circumference of the earth, and used for associated with a hurricane are expected in a navigation in the air and at sea. The angular specified coastal area in 24 hours or less. A distance from the equator to the North Pole hurricane warning can remain in effect when is 90 degrees. Each degree of latitude is dangerously high water or a combination of broken into 60 segments called minutes. Each dangerously high water and exceptionally high minute of latitude is further broken down into waves continue, even though winds may be 60 seconds of latitude. One nautical mile less than hurricane force. is defined as one second of latitude; this is the same as 1.15 miles along any American Hurricane Watch – An announcement for specific highway. coastal areas that hurricane conditions are possible within 36 hours. Navigator – Crew member on the NOAA Hurricane Hunters who ensures the safe passage of the Hygrometer – An instrument used to measure aircraft to and from the storm. When flying in humidity, which is the amount of moisture in the hurricane, the navigator determines the the air. direction and speed of the storm. Kermit and Miss Piggy – See page 35 for a NOAA – The National Oceanic and Atmospheric complete description. Administration, under the Department of Knots – A speed measurement used by the Commerce, is responsible for prediction and maritime and aviation community in place of research of weather and climate-related events, miles or kilometers per hour. One nautical mile charting the sea and skies, and providing equals one minute of latitude on the surface of environmental stewardship of the nation’s coast the earth. One knot would then be one nautical and marine resources. mile per hour. NOAA Corps – The smallest of the seven Landfall – The intersection of the surface center Uniformed Services of the United States, with of a tropical cyclone with a coastline. Because approximately 290 commissioned officers. It is the strongest winds in a tropical cyclone are not the uniformed service of the National Oceanic located precisely at the center, it is possible for and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). a cyclone’s strongest winds to be experienced NOAA National Environmental Satellite, Data, over land even if landfall does not occur. and Information Service (NESDIS) - An office Similarly, it is possible for a tropical cyclone of NOAA that provides timely access to global to make landfall and have its strongest winds environmental data from satellites and other remain over the water. sources to promote, protect, and enhance the Latitude – An angular measurement of the earth Nation’s, security, environment, and quality of from the equator to either the North or South life. Pole. There are 90 degrees of latitude from the NOAA National Marine Fisheries Service equator to each pole, each degree designated (NMFS) – An office of NOAA dedicated to the as a North or South latitude. stewardship of living marine resources through Meteorologist – A person who specializes in science-based conservation and management, meteorology in careers such as a research and the promotion of healthy ecosystems. scientist, teacher, forecaster, or weather NOAA National Ocean Service (NOS) – An office personality on TV. of NOAA that measures and predicts coastal Meteorology – The science of the atmosphere and and ocean phenomena, protects large areas of atmospheric processes, including the weather the oceans, and works to ensure safe maritime and climate. navigation. Models – Computer programs used by scientists NOAA National Weather Service (NWS) to predict the future position and state of – An office of NOAA that provides weather, the atmosphere; for hurricanes this includes hydrologic, and climate forecasts and warnings predicting where the storm will make landfall. for the United States, its territories, adjacent Weather models use grid techniques to process waters and ocean areas, for the protection of massive data sets. life and property. National Hurricane Center – The Center is NOAA Office of Marine and Aviation Operations located in Miami, Florida, and produces the (OMAO) – An office of NOAA that operates a tropical forecasts for the nation. They use wide variety of specialized aircraft and ships to data from weather satellites, aircraft, land and complete NOAA’s missions. shipboard observations to produce advisories, warnings, and watches. 3 NOAA Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Thermocouple – A temperature sensor created Research (OAR) – An office of NOAA that is by joining two dissimilar metals. The junction responsible for all of NOAA’s research, the produces a small voltage as a function of the driving force behind NOAA environmental temperature. products and services that protect life and Tides Online Website – NOAA’s Tides Online property. (http://tidesonline.nos.noaa.gov) is a Web- NOAA Weather Radio – A system that broadcasts based product, which provides users with All Hazards messages to the nation, providing the latest graphical and tabular water level immediate warnings of tornadoes, floods, observations, predictions and meteorological chemical spills and other perils. These radios data in near real-time. are inexpensive and available throughout the Topography – The relative elevations of the US from many different vendors. different features of a landscape. Pilot – The person responsible for the safe Tropical Cyclone – A warm, low pressure storm operation of the NOAA Hurricane Hunter originating over tropical or subtropical waters, aircraft. The pilot steers the plane into the eye with organized deep convection and a closed of the storm, and lands the plane after the long surface wind circulation about a well-defined mission is over. center. Pitot Tube – an instrument used to measure flow Tropical Depression – A tropical cyclone in which rates, and more specifically, used to determine the maximum sustained surface wind speed airspeed on aircraft. (using the U.S. 1-minute average) is 33 knots Radar – Stands for “Radio Detection And Ranging” (38 mph or 62 kph) or less. and returns echoes from transmitted pulses Tropical Disturbance – A discrete tropical on any target it hits. In the atmosphere, weather system of apparently organized raindrops reflect the energy, and therefore it convection, generally 100 to 300 nautical is an excellent tool to visualize the hurricane miles in diameter, that originates in the tropics structure. or subtropics, and moves and maintains its Saffir-Simpson Scale – A rating, developed by identity for 24 hours or more. Herbert Saffir and Robert Simpson, consisting Tropical Storm – A tropical cyclone in which the of five categories that indicate expected maximum sustained surface wind speed (using damage to structures based upon wind speed the U.S. 1-minute average) ranges from 34 and the effects of storm surge and flooding. knots (39 mph or 63 kph) to 63 knots (73 mph Sextant – A navigational instrument used to or 118 kph). determine the vertical position of an object Tropical Storm Warning – A warning that such as the sun, moon or stars. It is used with sustained winds within the range of 34 to celestial navigation. 63 knots (39 to 73 mph or 63 to 118 kph) Spiral Bands – Part of the hurricane structure, associated with a tropical cyclone are expected they radiate outward from the eye of the storm. in a specified coastal area within 24 hours or The spiral bands can extend for up to 300 miles less. from the eye. Tropical Storm Watch – An announcement Storm Surge – An onshore rush of water for specific coastal areas that tropical storm associated with a low pressure weather system, conditions are possible within 36 hours. typically a tropical cyclone. Storm surge is Updrafts – Rapid movement of air straight upward, caused primarily by high winds pushing on the usually in the vicinity of the eyewall. ocean’s surface causing the water to pile up higher than the normal sea level. Low pressure Wind Speed – The velocity of the wind measured at the center of a weather system also has a in knots or miles per hour. small secondary effect, as can the bathymetry WP-3D Orion – The National Oceanic and of the body of water. Atmospheric Administration has two planes Tarmac – A tar-based pavement at an airport manufactured by Lockheed based on the where planes are parked, away from the Electra airliner. They are the primary research runway and taxiways. aircraft to peer inside the fast-moving wall clouds of hurricanes since the late 1970s.

3 Answers: Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale Page 12: Miss Piggy can travel 3,704 kilometers Tropical Storm in one flight. Winds 39-73 mph Page 28: The wave height was 89 feet. Category 1 Hurricane Page 30: Answers may vary from the actual Winds 74-95 mph (64-82 knots) numbers due to estimation. Storm surge generally 4-5 ft above normal. No real damage to building structures. Damage Month Hurricanes Tropical Storms primarily to unanchored mobile homes, shrubbery, and trees. Some damage to poorly Jun 28 76 constructed signs. Also, some coastal road Jul 47 94 flooding and minor pier damage.

Aug 214 336 Category 2 Hurricane Sep 309 448 Winds 96-110 mph (83-95 knots) Oct 154 273 Storm surge generally 6-8 feet above normal. Some roofing material, door, and window Nov 38 58 damage of buildings. Considerable damage to shrubbery and trees with some trees blown Page 34: Crossword Puzzle down. Considerable damage to mobile homes, poorly constructed signs, and piers.

Category 3 Hurricane Winds 111-130 mph (96-113 knots) Storm surge generally 9-12 ft above normal. Some structural damage to small residences and utility buildings with a minor amount of curtainwall failures. Damage to shrubbery and trees with foliage blown off trees and large trees blown down. Mobile homes and poorly constructed signs are destroyed.

Category 4 Hurricane Winds 131-155 mph (114-135 knots) Conversions Storm surge generally 13-18 ft above normal. 1 kilometer (km) = 1,000 meters (m) = .6214 miles (mi) More extensive curtainwall failures with some complete roof structure failures on small 1 foot (ft) = .3048 meters (m) residences. Shrubs, trees, and all signs are 1 mile (mi) = 5,280 feet (ft) = .8690 nautical mile blown down. Complete destruction of mobile homes. Extensive damage to doors and 1 knot (kt) = 1 nautical mile per hour = 1.15 miles per windows. hour (mph) 1 knot (kt) = 1.85 kilometers per hour (kph) Category 5 Hurricane 1 knot (kt) = 1.7 feet per second (ft/s) =.51 meters per Winds 156 mph and up (135+ knots) second (m/s) Storm surge generally greater than 18 ft 1 meter (m) = 39.37 inches (in) above normal. Complete roof failure on many residences and industrial buildings. Some 1 centimeter (cm) = .3937 inches (in) complete building failures with small utility 1 kilogram (kg) = 2.205 pounds (lb) buildings blown over or away. All shrubs, trees, and signs blown down. Complete destruction 1 atmosphere (atm) = 14.7 pounds per square inch (psi) of mobile homes. Severe and extensive window 1 yard (yd) = .9144 meters (m) and door damage.

39 Hurricane Emergency Family Disaster Plan and Disaster Supply Kit (http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/HAW2/english/disaster_prevention.shtml)

Family Disaster Plan Disaster Supply Kit Discuss the type of hazards that could Water - at least 1 gallon daily per person affect your family. Know your home’s for 3 to 7 days vulnerability to storm surge, flooding and Food - at least enough for 3 to 7 days wind. • non-perishable packaged Locate a safe room or the safest areas in or canned food / juices your home for each hurricane hazard. In certain circumstances the safest areas • foods for infants or the elderly may not be your home but within your • snack foods community. • non-electric can opener Determine escape routes from your home • cooking tools / fuel and places to meet. These should be measured in tens of miles rather than • paper plates / plastic utensils hundreds of miles. Blankets / Pillows, etc. Have an out-of-state friend as a family Clothing - seasonal / rain gear/ sturdy contact, so all your family members have a shoes single point of contact. First Aid Kit / Medicines / Prescription Make a plan now for what to do with your Drugs pets if you need to evacuate. Special Items - for babies and the elderly Post emergency telephone numbers by your phones and make sure your children Toiletries / Hygiene items / Moisture wipes know how and when to call 911. Flashlight / Batteries Check your insurance coverage - flood Radio - Battery operated and NOAA damage is not usually covered by weather radio homeowners insurance. Cash - Banks and ATMs may not be open Stock non-perishable emergency supplies or available for extended periods and a Disaster Supply Kit. Keys - to important items such as the Use a NOAA weather radio. Remember to house, a car or a safe deposit box replace its battery every 6 months, as you do with your smoke detectors. Toys, Books and Games Take First Aid, CPR and disaster Important documents - in a waterproof preparedness classes. container or watertight resealable plastic bag — insurance, medical records, bank account numbers, Social Security card, etc. Tools - keep a set with you during the storm Vehicle fuel tanks filled Pet care items • proper identification / immunization records / medications • ample supply of food and water • a carrier or cage • muzzle and leash

0 Teacher in the Air and Teacher at Sea Programs The NOAA Teacher in the Air Program is an offshoot of NOAA’s Teacher at Sea Program and was first piloted in 2004. It has enabled teacher participants to observe research activities and interact with scientists while on board NOAA aircraft. Science projects have focused on wind flow patterns, hurricane awareness, and monsoons. Future TIA opportunities may be available for K-12 and university teachers and will be posted at http://www.teacheratsea.noaa.gov. Since its inception in 1990, the NOAA Teacher at Sea (TAS) program has offered educators around the country the opportunity to see NOAA’s exciting scientific research first hand. As of 2005, 430 teachers have participated in the program, representing 45 states, American Samoa, Chile, and Argentina. The program provides kindergarten through college-level teachers the chance to live and work side-by side, day and night, with those who contribute to the world’s body of scientific knowledge, and then take that experience back to the classroom.

Internet Resources for Teachers, Parents, and Students Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory (GFDL): http://www.gfdl.noaa.gov NOAA Coastal Services Center (NCSC): http://www.csc.noaa.gov NOAA Hurricane Hunters (Aircraft Operations Center): http://www.aoc.noaa.gov NOAA Hurricane Research Division (HRD): http://www.aoml.noaa.gov/hrd NOAA National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service (NESDIS): http://www.nesdis.noaa.gov NOAA National Hurricane Center (NHC): http://www.nhc.noaa.gov NOAA National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS): http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov NOAA National Ocean Service (NOS): http://www.oceanservice.noaa.gov NOAA National Weather Service (NWS): http://www.nws.noaa.gov NOAA Office of Education (OEd): http://www.oesd.noaa.gov NOAA Office of Marine and Aviation Operations (OMAO): http://www.omao.noaa.gov NOAA Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research (OAR): http://www.research.noaa.gov NOAA Teacher in the Air Program: http://www.teacheratsea.noaa.gov NOAA Weather Radio: http://weather.gov/nwr Tides Online: http://tidesonline.nos.noaa.gov

1 Hurricane Awareness Tour Map

Bangor, ME

Baltimore, MD

Richmond, VA

Charleston, SC

Jacksonville, FL

Atlantic Tropical Cyclone Names 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 Arlene Alberto Andrea Arthur Ana Alex Bret Beryl Barry Bertha Bill Bonnie Cindy Chris Chantal Cristobal Claudette Colin Dennis Debby Dean Dolly Danny Danielle Emily Ernesto Erin Edouard Erika Earl Franklin Florence Felix Fay Fred Fiona Gert Gordon Gabrielle Gustav Grace Gaston Harvey Helene Humberto Hanna Henri Hermine Irene Isaac Ingrid Ike Ida Igor Jose Joyce Jerry Josephine Joaquin Julia Katrina Kirk Karen Kyle Kate Karl Lee Leslie Lorenzo Laura Larry Lisa Maria Michael Melissa Marco Mindy Matthew Nate Nadine Noel Nana Nicholas Nicole Ophelia Oscar Olga Omar Odette Otto Philippe Patty Pablo Paloma Peter Paula Rita Rafael Rebekah Rene Rose Richard Stan Sandy Sebastien Sally Sam Shary Tammy Tony Tanya Teddy Teresa Tomas Vince Valerie Van Vicky Victor Virginie Wilma William Wendy Wilfred Wanda Walter

Biographies Diane Stanitski is a climatologist and associate professor at Shippensburg University in Pennsylvania where she teaches meteorology and atmospheric science courses. She served as both a NOAA Teacher in the Air in 2005 and a NOAA Teacher at Sea in 2002. She worked as a program manager in the NOAA Office of Climate Observation from 2003 2005 to help build the global ocean observing system. Diane was co-author of the book, Teacher at Sea: Miss Cook’s Voyage on the RONALD H. BROWN. She is passionate about science and loves spending time with her family, traveling, playing soccer, and running.

TEACHER in the AIR, Dr. Diane’s Flight with NOAA Hurricane Hunters

Dr. Diane’s Flight with the NOAA Hurricane Hunters Diane Marie Stanitski and John J. Adler

Written by: Diane Marie Stanitski and John J. Adler

Illustrations by: Bruce David Cowden

A National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Publication A National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Publication